Colon Cancer Procedure: Different treatments for the five different stages of the disease

Stage 0 Colon Cancer

This earliest stage of colon cancer, often called carcinoma in situ, is when the disease is found only in the inner lining of the colon. Surgical procedures usually will involve a polypectomy, which is when a local excision is made in order to remove the cancerous tumors along with surrounding tissues. If there are larger tumors present, more extensive surgery, often called a bowel resection, may be needed. The diseased portion of the intestine is removed, and the healthy remaining ends are reattached with sutures using a procedure called anastomosis. Normal bowel function is then restored.

Stage I Colon Cancer

This stage of cancer is also known as Dukes A colon cancer and indicates that the disease has spread beyond the innermost lining of the colon. The second and third layers are affected, but the cancer has not yet spread to the outer wall of the colon or beyond the colon itself. The colon cancer procedure used will most likely will remove all of the disease, and additional treatments such as chemotherapy usually aren?t needed at this stage.

Stage II Colon Cancer

This third stage is also known as Dukes B colon cancer and is used to define cancer that has extended through the wall of the colon, but not yet to the surrounding lymph nodes. Surgery to remove the cancerous cells along with adjuvant therapies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy may be necessary to treat this stage of colon cancer.

Stage III Colon Cancer

Stage III colon cancer, also called Dukes C, is when the disease has spread beyond the colon to one or more of the surrounding lymph nodes. Lymph nodes the are tiny structures located throughout the body that produce and store infection fighting cells.

This stage of colon cancer is also broken down into two sub-stages, Dukes C1 and Dukes C2. Tumors that are still located within the wall of the colon fall under the Dukes C1 classification, while tumors that have already spread and grown through the colon’s wall are considered Dukes C2 cancer.

The colon cancer procedures used for the treatment of this stage of the disease include removing the cancerous tumors and all of the surrounding lymph nodes. Radiation therapy may be necessary to shrink larger tumors and cancerous cells that may have invaded healthy surrounding tissue. As with stage II colon cancer, stage III patients may be candidates for adjuvant therapies.

Stage IV Colon Cancer

This final stage, often referred to as Dukes D colon cancer, indicates that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. During this stage of the disease, numerous lymph nodes may be affected as well as organs such as the lungs, liver, and ovaries. The colon cancer procedure necessary to treat this stage of the disease will surgically remove all of the cancerous tumors in the colon and any other affected organs. Chemotherapy will most likely be needed, as well as radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.

There are new methods for treating colon cancer that has metastasized or spread beyond the colon using drugs classified as monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies are naturally produced by the immune system for the purpose of fighting viruses or bacteria in general. However, when they are recreated by scientists in a laboratory setting, they can be used to specifically target and destroy cancerous cells. Ask your doctor to explain the possible side effects, risks, and benefits of treating colon cancer with medication therapy.